God's Plan

The time is nearing for us to leave the Valley and travel on home to Arkansas. Our Monday night Bible Study at CHI had the last session on Monday as we studied a short lesson on ambition; good ambition versus bad ambition. Our group has expanded and matured so much this year! Monday provided us with only a few members, as most of the people have returned to their Northern Homes. But it was so great - a lady who was new to our group, felt comfortable enough to say what was heavy on her heart - to tell us very personal things about herself and her recent life. She did not understand God's plan for her, because she felt God had allowed bad things to happen to her. We had a wonderful discussion about this! We took time out to pray for her - for grace, patience, and peace.  One of the men had not read scrpiture at our study all season, but one of the verses suggested for our study touched him to the point that he started to read it as soon as we asked someone to read . Praise the Lord for allowing him to step out so boldly. It was a bittersweet evening, and we look forward to next fall when we all gather together again, to fellowship with food for body as well as for the soul.
As I was cleaning up my outside flowers (and wondered why the roses attacked me in the arm), a hummingbird was buzzing around the large cactus we have in the front yard.  I paused for awhile, quietly watching him/her and wondering what the tiny bird wanted with a prickly cactus. Our neighbor had recently told me she saw this bird earlier this week hovering around the caucus. Imagine my surprise when the tiny beak began to pick little bits of fuzz that was growing on the caucus: building supplies for the nest! Such tiny pieces of fuzz to make a house with! What perseverance. It reminded me how the Holy Spirit works within us - a tiny bit at a time until the project is complete. I gave thanks to the Lord for allowing me to observe this wonder.